We may have winter in the middle of the year, and we may not get any snow, but we still have our own version of a 'wonderland'. The bush around us looks dull and dry, but in our garden, vibrant colour is to be seen.
There are soft tints and vivid reds all over, like highlights everywhere.
My gardener husband tells me that much of the increased 'red' on the plants is because they are under stress with the dry winter weather…succulents that are stressed out go red!
But I was thinking what a metaphor reminder that might be for me, that we may think we are under stressful situations, but sometimes the tough times can also be part of God making something beautiful! God doesn't need a no-stress zone to create something beautiful. May I be like succulents that only grow more beautiful (with the beauty of Christ) in the tough, cold, dry and stressful times.
Succulants with a backdrop of aloes
dry and under stress but beautiful
this is commonly known as 'crown of thorns'
Aloe flowers
…and close up - so shiny, like each one has been polished!
just below the aloe are these beauties...
…which add purple to their colour palette as the flowers die
Winter leaves still cover the ground by our house
More stressed plants - letting the light shine through them in spectacular ways!
And still more stressed plants resplendent in beauty
these ones aren't red because they are stressed - they are normally that colour.
this peculiar flower is an aloe flower of a different kind…..
…and are part of a group - like a family all standing together
And of course we are so blessed with an abundance of bouganvillea
And last of all - a lonely tiny poinsettia stunning in the sunlight!
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